A range of items were endorsed for community consultation at the March meeting of the Macedon Ranges Shire Council.
At the top of the list was a new borrowing policy that will help address a current gap in financial governance, formalising existing practices and principles that have been used to guide borrowing to date in accordance with Australian accounting standards and relevant legislation.
It recognises the importance of sound financial management and fiscal responsibility, enabling Council to undertake borrowings that ensure flexibility and risk mitigation in financial decisions.
Council also revised its neighbourhood house policy that was last adopted in 2018. The revised policy aims to provide clear guidelines and support positive working relationships with neighbourhood houses across the shire, of which there are currently seven.
Reviewed in consultation with the neighbourhood houses, the revised policy proposes a number of practical changes including better clarity of protocols and responsibilities, and an increase to annual Council funding ($5,000 each) available through a non-competitive application process.
The management of unsealed roads within township boundaries highlighted council’s renewed focus on the ongoing management of unsealed roads within township boundaries including dust suppression trial results and ongoing work to review the special charge scheme policy.
An extension of time was granted to September 20 to present a final report on this topic, in consideration of additional due diligence underway to support more informed recommendations.
Notice of Motion was presented to address wildlife trauma and fatalities. Council will submit a motion at the Australian Local Government Association’s National General Assembly in July, calling on the Australian Government to include wildlife trauma and fatalities metrics in Federal road safety funding models.
This push aligns with Council considering wildlife in its recently endorsed Mobility and Road Safety Strategy, and collaborative discussions at Council’s reducing the wildlife road toll forum last month. Council will also write to a number of relevant Federal and State Ministers advocating this point.
